Mururoa Nuclear Tests, RNZN protest Veterans

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30th Anniversary Reunion

Missing

Crew members who's whereabouts are unknown at this time are here. As Otago did not have a nominal roll at the time of going to Mururoa, Otago's crew members are therefore unknown. If they can be remembered by Otago crew members please let me know so they can be added to this list.

Adair J.S. ENS, - Ainsworth S. LCK, - Allan P.J. WO, - Ashwell M.L. AB.

Blair D. ORD, - Boyce N.J. SPO, - Brown J.A. ME1, - Bruce M.S. CWI, - Shaun Brown RNZ, - Bryce G.S. PRD, - Buis M.D. JASTD, - Butler W. AB.

Calkin C.P.C. LT, - Campbell N.M. LME, - Rick Carlyon TVNZ, - Christianson I.F. MPO, - Clews K. OEW, - Clough T.A. RM2, - Cotter M.A.C. MID, - Curran A.T. ME2.

Davis G.G. LWM, - Davis R.O. S/Lt, - Dawson A. AB, - Dennis R.B. ORD, - Downes B.L. LSTD, - Drummond G.J. OEW, - Duff J L/Cdr.

Elbourne P.H. LCK, - Easterbrook T.I. SGT.

Fitzgerald G.H. L/S, - Fleming R.M. CEA1, - Fraser W.R. PORM.

Gardiner G.M. CEA APP, - Gibbs Paul ?, - Glass E.D. Lt, - Griffen D.C. ORD, - Griffiths G.G. L/S, - Greennall M.T. SHT ART1, - Guard F.T. EM1.

Hack S.L. CEA APP, - Hamilton A.W. MEMECH2, - Hansen J.D. AB, - Harrison B. RM2, - Hartley K.W. LWM, - Hartshore M.H. AB, - Head G.W. L/Cdr, - Hearley D. MID, - Henderson D.C. WEA APP, - Hewson Bob ?, - Hill C.B. LT, - Hingston R. ME1.

Ilton L.J. LSA, - Ireland D.C. EM2.

Jackman M.G. ENS, - Johnson G.B. AB, - Jury M.J. AB.

Kelpe L.R. POWTR, - Kennedy G.M. LCK, - King G.M. LEM, - Knight D.G. REA1.

Leith E.D. ORD, - Lesicki A.K. ORD, - Little C.W. ME2, - Low W. POEL.

McArthur N. ORD, - McBrearty B.D. MEMECH1, - McCahon J.F. National Radiation Lab, - McCann Gus ARD, - MacDonald D.J. ORD, - Malthus S.R. ENS, - Martin I.F.P. MID, - Milne C.J. LRM, - Mitchell J.A. CEA2, - Morrell G.L. ORD, - Morris P.L. L/S, - Murphy P.A. SCPO.

Nesbit S.W. ORD, - Nielsen N. OEW, - Norman C.E. WM1.

O'Connell D.J. J/S, - Ottoway G.R. WM2.

Palmer W.F. AB, - Pate M.R. LtCdr, - Pearse E.A. ME1, - Petley B.C. LT, - Petrie J. LCK, - Pilcher L.F. L/S, - Pirrett R.A. ORD.

Ramsay K.J. LRM, - Rangi H.J. LCK, - Rangi N.T. ORD, - Ratima P.N.T. ASTD, - Reynolds B.J. REA1, - Reynish A. ORD, - Reynish S.C. ORD, - Roben F.H. AB, - Robertson J. CK, - Robertson R.A. RM1, - Robinson B.L. LCK, - Robinson G.R. ACK, - Rogers D.J.CEA2, - Romley A.B. AB, - Rountree B.W. ME2, - Rush S.H. ORD, - Russell G.A. ASTD.

Scarborough R. LtCdr, - Shackell J. LT, - Simonson A.N. ASTD, - Skilton R.D. REA2, - Sharp A.E. RM@, - Smith N.E. L/S, - Smith S. REA1, - Smith T.J. ENS, - Sommers K.N. Ck, - Soppett K.A. POEL, - Stowers D.M. LSA.

Tamepo J.H.M. ME2, - Tapsell G.H.M. J/S, - Taylor A.W. ME1, - Taylor J.G. LRM, - Thompson S.A. ME1, - Toia H.F. WTR, - Toia N. ORD, - Tricker I.L. RM2, - Turnbull H.J. CK.

Urquhart L.A.W. LtCdr.

Walker C.R. ME1, - Walker M.J. ORDN, - Walker R.H. ORD, - Wallis M. WEA APP, - Walsh G.S. STD, - Warrington P.A. L/S, - Welsh J.E.N. LtCdr, - Whitehead B.J. J/S, - Wisneski K. POEL, - Wrigley D.S. REA2, - Wynyard P.C. AB.

Young W.J. AB.

Financial Members

Financial Members of Mururoa Veterans' Society

This page lists those members of the Society who have paid their $10 annual subscription.

NOTE - You will not appear on this list unless you have paid your annual subscription sent to and received by Peter Mitchell. Completing the process of becoming a registered member of the website is not the same thing.

Wayne Abel                   West Australia                           Ex Canterbury
Steve Aldridge              Hamilton                                     Ex Canterbury
Malcolm Anderton          Takapuna - Auckland               Ex Canterbury

David Barber                 Wilton - Wellington                   Ex Otago (NZPA)
Jon Butzbach                 Albany - Auckland                     Ex Otago

Trevor Bowden Mairangi Bay - Auckland Ex Canterbury

Michael Cahill Grasmere - Invercargill Ex Otago

Peter Cameron Helensville - Auckland Ex Canterbury

Michael Cole Howick - Auckland Ex Otago

Raymond Coombes Mosgiel - Dunedin Ex Canterbury

Peter Cozens Hataitai - Wellington Ex Canterbury
Nigel Craik Stoke - Nelson Ex Otago

Phil Doran Hastings Ex Canterbury

Mike Fisher Nelson Ex Otago

Andy Francis Auckland Ex Canterbury

Cyril Goulsbro               Western Australia                      Ex Canterbury

Jim Hay                        Glenfield - Auckland                 Ex Otago
Colin Hayward             Porirua - Wellington                 Ex Otago
Gunther Henman           Drury - Auckland                      Ex Otago

Kevin Jeffs                   Whangamata                           Ex Canterbury

Barry Jordan                  Auckland                                  Ex Canterbury

Anthony Kennedy          Levin                                       Ex Canterbury
Alex Kildare                  Glenfield - Auckland                  Ex Canterbury

Robin (Charlie) Lamb    Browns Bay - Auckland          Ex Otago

Paddy Long Bexley - Christchurch Ex Canterbury

Peter Lowish Nelson Ex Canterbury
Allan Luchford Christchurch Ex Otago

Jock MacEwan Auckland Central Ex Canterbury
Blue MacInness Timaru Ex Canterbury

George McGregor Devonport - Auckland Ex Canterbury
Wayne McKenzie Christchurch Ex Canterbury

Peter Mitchell Tauranga Ex Canterbury

George Mortimore United Kingdom Ex RFA

Bob Overton             Taupo                                      Ex Canterbury

Terry Patterson          Howick - Auckland                     Ex Canterbury
Greame Pearce           Rarotonga                                 Ex Canterbury

Ian Reid                     Howick - Auckland                      Ex Canterbury
Kevin Robinson           Porirua - Wellington                     Ex Canterbury
Kevin Rowntree          Glenfield - Auckland                    Ex Canterbury
Bruce Rutherford        Birkenhead - Auckland                 Ex Canterbury

Ian Schmidt                Western Australia                     Ex Otago

Dennis Shaw Nelson Ex Otago

Henry Te Wheoro Tauranga Ex Otago

Fred Towler Northcote - Auckland Ex Otago

Chris Turver Te Hono Ex Canterbury (NZPA)

Michael Woods Glendene - Auckland Ex Otago

Gerry Wright             Epsom - Auckland                       Ex Otago and Canterbury

Honourary Members

Bob Currin J.P.       Austrailia                               Ex Supply
Maurice Fox           Australia                                Ex Supply

Ken Witchard Australia Ex Supply

Alan Wilson Australia Ex Supply

Honour Roll

This page is in memory of those who have

Crossed the Bar

Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar
When I put out to sea.

But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam.
When that which drew from the boundless deep
Turns again home.

Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
Any may there be no sadness of farewell
When I embark.

For though from out our bourne of time and place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar.

Lord Tennyson 1889.

C.B. Airey MEA3 HMNZS Canterbury
L.B. Allsop EM2 HMNZS Canterbury
William (Rupert) Anderson OSG HMNZS Canterbury

J. Balmforth WOCEA HMNZS Canterbury
Edward (Donkey) Bray CPO CK HMNZS Canterbury
Peter Brown MA HMNZS Canterbury

V. Bull Canteen manager HMNZS Otago
Robin Burrows MA HMNZS Otago

J. Burton LCDR Weapons Electrical Officer HMNZS Canterbury

G.E Cole Lt Cdr HMNZS Canterbury

Fraser Colman Member of Parliament Both HMNZS Otago and HMNZS Canterbury

Derek Cheney Captain Commanding Officer HMNZS Canterbury
G.A. Cuff WOMEA HMNZS Otago

Hugh (HOF) French LSG HMNZS Otago

John Leonard LT Flying Officer HMNZS Canterbury
Terry Lines WM HMNZS Otago

E.A. McAlpine SGT HMNZS Canterbury
David (Opie) McDowell POME HMNZS Canterbury
John Maire 1st Lieutanant HMNZS Canterbury
G.W. (Gubby) Mattingly LME HMNZS Canterbury

B.M. Obsborne CPO STD HMNZS Canterbury
Peter Oram CPO OA1 HMNZS Canterbury

A.F. Pilgrim CPO HMNZS Canterbury

Brian Quick JME HMNZS Otago

Douglas T Scown CRM HMNZS Otago
Gordon Sinnett L/S HMNZS Canterbury

Allan Tyrell Commander Commanding Officer HMNZS Otago

Shane (Cloggs) Veldhuizen OSG HMNZS Canterbury

Barry Wrather CPO WTR HMNZS Otago

30 Years ago

Bay of Plenty Times, Thursday, July 31, 2003

Defence Staff frosty during frigate's protest to Mururoa

When the New Zealand government sent a naval protest ship to witness a French nuclear blast at Mururoa Atoll 30 years ago, there were flashpoints on board, as former NZPA correspondent David Barber recalls

Thirty years ago I stood on the bridge of the Royal New Zealand Navy frigate Otago and watched an orange fireball rise on the horizon and develop into the unmistakable mushroom cloud of a nuclear explosion over France's Pacific test site on Mururoa.
Within minutes, the news - flashed down an open radio link to Wellington - had gone around the world, sparking a barrage of international protests that prompted New Zealand's prime minister Norman Kirk to say, "Never before has world opinion on nuclear testing been so stirred."
The Otago, sent by Mr Kirk to be "a silent accusing witness" as France continued to conduct nuclear tests in the atmosphere over the South Pacific, was the first state-sponsored Ban the Bomb protest ship.
It was also the first time a warship had carried out an operational mission in which the deadlist weapons aboard were its radio transmitters.
For the Otago's mission was not to try to stop the tests physically. While the operation might have smacked of gunboat diplomacy, Mr Kirk had specifically ruled out any military confrontation with the French or sailing downwind of radioactive fallout to halt any experiment.
I, as the New Zealand Press Association's correspondent, and Shaun Brown, reporting for radio and television under the old New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation umbrella, were on the end of those radio transmitters. Along with TV cameraman Wayne Williams, we were in effect Mr Kirk's not-so-secret weapons.
It was for his government a public relations exercise dsigned to put the French, who had never confirmed their tests since moving them to the Pacific from the Sahara in 1966, in the international spotlight.
France and China were the last nuclear powers testing in the atmosphere.
Mr Kirk, whose Labour government had won power the previous year, saw his chance to embarrass the French.
The NZPA, which was linked to the international news agency Reuters and therefore to just about every major newspaper in the world, and the NZBC, which had extensive radio and TV connections, were each invited to send a correspondent.
To heighten the drama - and to have a government mouthpiece on board to talk to the world's' media who inundated the vessel with calls - Mr Kirk put cabinet minister Fraser Colman, father of three young daughters, on the ship.
The military hierarchy, needless to say, was not impressed.
Defence headquarters moved to foil the entire operation from the outset, telling the prime minister I was not acceptable after NZPA nominated me as its correspondent.
The reason was a succession of stories I had written from the Vietnam War and elsewhere as NZPA's Asian correspondent over the previous three years - stories that ironically Mr Kirk had largely welcomed as opposition leader because they also tended to embarrass the former National government.
Fortunately, when the Prime Minister's Department unthinkingly passed on the message, the then chairman of NZPA, John Haringham, who edited the New Zealand Herald, dug in his heels for press freedom and said if Barber did not go, neither the NZPA nor any newspaper would send a journalist.
I finally sailed on the Otago from Devonport Naval Base on June 28, 1973, with somewhat condescending dockside assurances from both Mr Kirk and defence minister Arther Faulkner that they had every confidence in me.
The same could not be said for the navy or the Otago's crew of nearly 250, who strongly rejected the tag of "official protesters" and "protest voyage".
Although they had been given the option of pulling out of the trip, they were also adamant that they were not "volunteers" but servicemen did as they were instructed.
A frigate is a tiny, very, cramped, ship and no provision had been made for a working space for Shaun or me, who were housed in separate chief petty officers' messes of modest walkin wardrobe size and sleeping 12 people.
After our temperatures had risen to a point of suggesting the vessel turn back because we could not do our jobs, we were given a tiny room housing some electronic gear at the stern where we perched on high stools, trying to control our typewiters as they slid from side to side with the ship's roll.
We sealed our occupation by hanging a small wooden sign on the door made by the ship's "chippy" and reading: "Newsroom. NZPA-NZBC. Otago-Mururoa Branch Office."
NZPA editors in Wellington had to do their own ranting and raving with the prime minister's office after my first story filed over the ship's radio transmitters to Defence headquarters took 22 hours to reach the newsroom.
The navy apparently thought it incumbent on them to have every word checked and analysed by every admiral on shore and most of the lower ranks and NZPA was forced to seek reassurance at the highest political level that my stories would not be censored.
Navy humour or bloody-mindedness gave us the run of the officer's wardroom for meals and recreation but as relations with our CPO messmates warmed we adopted schizophrenic routine of spending half our time getting drunk or pretending to be drunk with them and the other half with the officers trying to appear sober.
We were aided in this by the Royal New Zealand Navy then being the last to give all sailors a daily tot (eighth of a pint) of rum as well as a daily beer ration, though self-discipline was the only ration for the officers who favoured more sophisticated tipples.
Gradually, we were accepted by officers and men who appreciated that, like them, we were only doing our job.
They also came around to respect their mission, cheering wildly when Mr Kirk directed the ship to ignore a French instruction to keep out of an arbitary so-called danger zone and exercise its right to sail the high seas.
While initally they had only contempt for the flotilla of civilians protest boats heading for Mururoa, the crew developed a real concern for the ketch Fri, with French and New Zealand protesters including a pregnant woman aboard, which was seized by commandos as Shaun and I talked to it over the Otago's bridge radio.
The ship was idling 35km off Mururoa and there were just five of us on the bridge, shrouded in anti-flash gear, on the morning of July 22 when the French exploded a nuclear device from a balloon above Mururoa.
I reported over the air waves to Wellington: "Within a few minutes of the blast the cloud began to form and could be seen clearly on the horizon above Mururoa, rising through a layer of cumulus cloud and billowing out into a perfect mushroom."
My story led the front page of the New York Times and newspapers in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and South America, attracting wide spread condemnation of France in official and unofficial protest.
HMNZS Canterbury took over the vigil as the Otago sailed home to finish a record five weeks at sea.
Mr Kirk comment at the time: "By drawing the attention of millions of people round the world to what is happening at Mururoa, I believe we have created a new international awareness that all nuclear weapons tests must be stopped."

Shaun Brown TVNZ

21.7.73 Voice piece special for TV

Suggested throw line - The protest frigate watched the explosion from a station 22 miles off the testing atoll. NZBC reporter Shaun Brown was one of only five people on the bridge of the vessel at the time the bomb went off.

Tape - Wearing protective goggles and anti-flash clothing we turned our backs on Mururoa as the official French countdown came over the Otago's radio. As the countdown ended there was a brief flash and then nothing. But then the Captain of the Otago, Commander Alan Tyrrell sighted the fireball rising from behind a layer of clouds. Within seconds the grey stalk caused by the rising fireball had been topped by a mushroom cloud which climbed higher and higher.
First it was an angry burnt red colour - then as it assumed the typical mushroom shape it's colour changed and the top became smooth and completely white. Finally the mushroom shape disappeared and became just another cloud over the Atoll - only the tinge of red on its edge reminding us that it was in fact the start of the French nuclear testing programme for 1973.

The crew of the Otago were allowed on deck seconds after the explosion - among them was the minister of Immigration, Mr Colman. He too was wearing special clothing as a protection against a possible nuclear flash. While Mr Colman and others watched the cloud rise and finally disappear, members of the crew measured and assessed the size of the explosion from the length of the flash and the size and height of the cloud.

Their final verdict - it had been a small detonation - a little over 5 kilotons. But regardless of size it had been a symbol of French determination to continue in its bid for tactical nuclear capability. France had exploded her 30th bomb in the South Pacific.

This is Shaun Brown on board the Otago.

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